Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-10

owe are going TO dine late to-day,
Auntie. Mother las invited friend
TO Join us"
" Indeed :"
Miss Danvcr was not particularly in
tcrcsttd, hut she looked mp at her niece
with the bright, alert look that was
Characteristic OF her.
She was n tail, well-formcd woman
of eight-and thirty or thereabout, with
2 handsome, regular featured, some
what severe face. Her hair was very
dark brown, straight and glossy her
eyes were gray and very pene-
tiating; and her complexion was OF
that peculiar ivory tint which 50 sue
cessfully rosists the rlyages OF years.
In her rich, well-cut dress, with her
handsome face and clear, intelligent
ewes, it would certainly have required
some explanation before the unlnitla-
ted could have come to understand
that this was the relative of whom COM
monpace little Clara Danyer was
ashamed.
mother is rather anxious about the
dinner and she wants You to suggest a
GOOD AiCnU that will not be beyond the
scope of our joint efforts. "
"Is the friend a man or woman
at is gentlemau.'
"Oh :" II faint flicker OF amusement
cleaned for second in Miss Danvers
ewes "thcn | shall give tho dinner
my best consideration, and You must
let me help Ellen with the preiimina-
ries."
- suppose you Will wear Your black
velvet dress =
- don't l.uow Y this is n very cy-
TIA sclt Of gentleman perhaps Jon
would rather your commonplace old
aunt 3.d not appear
Clala protested vehemently. OF all
people in the world Ter aunt must bc
present to meet lir. Amherst, whom
She WAS Sure TO like, and who was alto
gtthcr splendid kind Of a man. But,
having found an opening IN her aunt 4
GOOD Eumolcd observations, Clara pre-
Pared to make her little request This
| Mr.. Amherst. whom they expected to
! dinner, belonged t. county family,
and had never had any relations in
trade: ard, therefore, rs great favor
to the whole OF them, would dear Aunt
Eliza promise not TO mention the hotel
/ before HIM
Never in all her life had little Clara
seen such blush as that which surged
slowly up over her aunt's throat. and
ears. and forehead. 1t was no rose flush
in the checks this, but one OF those red
tides that seem to rise in Il hot wave
from the very heart.
"Nou know, for ourselves, we don t
mind a bit" Clara went on, with a
desperate effort to oXl lain. We could
not admire you more If vou were IL
queen, and Keeping hotel is q thing
any lady might DO, | am sure but Mr..
Amherst is different, and he might
think it otquite the thing. Some peo-
pie have old-fashioned ideas, you know,
and always think OF the proprietor OF
hotel as buXOm person, who sees to
the airing of the linen and scolds the
chambermaids.
II often scold the chambermaids
ooh, YES. But You are different
quito WuN, YOU hHoNj anu lOOhiH5
like a duchess. No one could ever
imagine, to look at you that You did
anything Of a practical and everyday
kind, and so / want you to letus ignore
the hotel for once. Thereason is this
Mr.. Amherst admires Jessie. ! know
he does, though she pretonds not to
think so, and he is quite IA gentleman,
and ever so rich, and We should all like
him TO mary her.
"Bnt don't see what he has TO do
with my occupation
"Well, you know he might not like
it. 1t is thing no one should object
TO really Clara added with large
minded magnanimity, "but Mr.. Am
herst might"
Then, for that very reason, | think
he ought to be told before he commits
himself"
A slight frown contracted Claras
smooth forehead. Her aunt was GER
tainly provoking woman.
81 don't think so. Ii is not like a
crime, and il is thing he should not
mind once he has spoken. No one
would have the moral courage 10 admit
! that he broke off an engagement be.